National briefs: PGA coming to Charlotte

Associated Press

RALEIGH — Since Quail Hollow Club returned to the PGA Tour in 2003, big-name golfers from Tiger Woods to Phil Mickelson have said the Charlotte course could be the site for a major championship.

That will come in 2017 when it will host the PGA Championship, the final major of each pro season.

A state government official with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press on Monday that the PGA of America will make a formal announcement today. The official spoke on condition of anonymity so as not to pre-empt the official announcement.

Quail Hollow’s difficult but fair old-style layout has drawn one of the top non-major fields of the year. Woods, who won there in 2007, chose Charlotte as his first non-major tournament after he missed much of the beginning of this season when his extramarital affairs were exposed.

While Woods missed the cut, he said a year earlier that Quail Hollow would be a good spot for a U.S. Open or PGA Championship.

“You add rough, make it a par-70 and there you go,” he said.

Added Geoff Ogilvy during last May’s event: “It’s a course that feels a step above, challenge-wise. ... I think if we all turned up here and had a U.S. Open or PGA (Championship), it would feel like a normal U.S. Open or a PGA. It does feel like a major kind of place.”

Gov. Beverly Perdue, Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx and club president Johnny Harris all are expected at today’s announcement, a public relations firm said.

Quail Hollow’s first major will be part of a busy time for the Carolinas hosting golf’s biggest events. The 2012 PGA Championship will be at Kiawah Island, S.C. In 2014 Pinehurst’s famed No. 2 course will host the men’s and women’s U.S. Opens in consecutive weeks.

Harris said in May he was interested in Quail Hollow hosting a big event, whether it was a PGA Championship or Ryder Cup. PGA officials have made numerous trips to the course as they decided on the tournament in 2017, the earliest year in which the course hadn’t been picked.

TENNIS

NEW YORK — Venus Williams landed awkwardly on her recently injured leg after hitting a swinging volley and grimaced. It was about the only glitch during her return to tennis.

Playing for the first time in two months after spraining her left kneecap, Williams beat Roberta Vinci of Italy 6-4, 6-1 to reach the U.S. Open’s second round.

Kim Clijsters stretched her winning streak in New York to 15 matches despite a brief blip in a 6-0, 7-5 victory over 104th-ranked Greta Arn of Hungary.

Andy Roddick, who turned 28 on Monday, beat Stephane Robert of France 6-3, 6-2, 6-2. Roger Federer hit a between-the-legs winner and prevailed 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 in a late match against Brian Dabul.

Other winners included No. 6 Nikolay Davydenko, No. 11 Marin Cilic, No. 13 Jurgen Melzer, No. 17 Gael Monfils and No. 22 Juan Carlos Ferrero. No. 27 Fernando Gonzalez quit in the third set of his match against Ivan Dodig because of a knee injury.

Women moving into the second round included surprise 2009 U.S. Open quarterfinalist Melanie Oudin, French Open champion Francesca Schiavone, French Open runner-up Sam Stosur, two-time major finalist Elena Dementieva, No. 10 Victoria Azarenka, No. 13 Marion Bartoli, No. 16 Shahar Peer and No. 24 Daniela Hantuchova, who beat former No. 1 Dinara Safina 6-3, 6-4.

WORLD HOOPS

ISTANBUL — The United States survived its first test at the world championships, edging Brazil 70-68 when Leandro Barbosa’s shot rattled out at the buzzer.

Kevin Durant scored 27 points and Chauncey Billups added 15 for the Americans (3-0), who essentially clinched Group B with the victory. But this was further proof that a world title won’t come easily for this young U.S. team — if it comes at all.

NBA

MIAMI — Former West Virginia star Da’Sean Butler has signed with the Heat, becoming the team’s 18th player under contract going into training camp.

Doctors believe the torn ACL in Butler’s left knee should be fully healed in time for the season.

n CHARLOTTE — Michael Jordan and his Bobcats team will donate $250,000 to middle-school athletics programs in Charlotte.

Charlotte schools cut $1.25 million cut from athletics programs this year and school officials announced a plan to charge students $50 for middle-schoolers and $100 high-schoolers who play.

COLLEGE HOOPS

LAS VEGAS — MGM Resorts International was under investigation after the underage son of Michael Jordan bragged on Twitter about partying at a Las Vegas Strip nightclub, Nevada gambling regulators said.

Officials were examining whether the casino operator violated laws prohibiting drinking or gambling by minors, Nevada Gaming Control Board enforcement chief Jerry Markling said. People under 21 often try to gamble or drink in Las Vegas, but punishment for casino operators depend on the circumstances, Markling said.

Jordan’s 19-year-old son Marcus Jordan tweeted Aug. 20 about spending $35,000 at Haze at Aria Resort & Casino.

“Last night was stupid... 35K at Haze,” the University of Central Florida sophomore guard said. “Totals 50K something the whole day.”

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

NORMAN, Okla. — Whether or not defensive tackle Adrian Taylor (ankle) plays for Oklahoma in its opener Saturday against Utah State will be a game-day decision.

n BLACKSBURG, Va. — Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer says speedy sophomore tailback David Wilson will play instead of redshirting this season.

Virginia Tech has had record-setting freshmen tailbacks in the past two seasons in Darren Evans and Ryan Williams. Both are healthy.

n COLUMBIA, Mo. — Suspended Missouri running back Derrick Washington was charged with sexually assaulting a former tutor in her apartment over the summer.